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New Hyundai Santa Fe Ratings

Getting firsthand information from an actual car owner is one sure way to get an idea of car performance once it leaves the lot. Autobytel features real consumer reviews that give the unbiased experience of a car.

2002 Hyundai Santa Fe - GLS AWD

Cons: Slight hesitation when accelerating on the gas (usually about 1 second) before it takes off.

Advice: RESEARCH RESEARCH RESEARCH! Get pre-approved on a loan and DO NOT DEAL WITH DEALERSHIPS THAT TRY TO HAGGLE WITH YOU. Consumer Reports says $500 above invoice

I researched many different SUV's in the Santa Fe's class (spending several months doing so) and found that the Santa Fe not only offered the best options, looks, and performance, but the best warranty of any other suv in its class (and some above, ie the Durango). The Santa Fe has the looks of a well modeled and planned SUV, but the secret of this puppy is that it performs like a car. As you accelerate down the road you don't feel like you are driving something unwieldy. Backing up, parallel parking, etc are a breeze, with more than enough open space to view where you're going (unlike larger suv's like the Durango and the Suburban)

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1/2/2002 8:26:12 AM

2002 Hyundai Santa Fe - LX (A4) FWD

Pros: Look and driving comfort

Cons: noise level, might be a bit better

Advice: drive one yourself, and the difference is obvious

Excellent ride and comfort. Drove several of the most popular and this was the most comfortable by far. Love the appearance.

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1/2/2002 7:48:04 AM

2002 Hyundai Santa Fe - GLS FWD

Pros: the standard equipment and the 10 year 100

Cons: storage under cargo mat is to small

Advice: Go test drive this suv. be sure to look at crash test rating

very comfortable ride good sounding sterio the GLS has a v-6 as standard equipment with power to pass at highway speeds it has good leg room for rear passengers the controls for accesories is easy to reach

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12/31/2001 3:25:50 AM

2002 Hyundai Santa Fe - GLS FWD

Pros: style and design. car turns a lot of heads with its unigue design.

Cons: no option of leather on 2wd

Advice: drive it !!!! it sells itself.

looks of a suv, but the nice quiet, smooth ride of a car. comparison shopped many of the competitors mid-size suv's and after all factors were weighed in, the sante fe came out ahead. great car at a great price and excellent warranty. i did research also on internet for dealer cost vs. msrp and offered dealer price of dealer cost and they took it with no haggling. another savings of $1850 off the already appealing sticker price. as i was writing up paper work on my new sante fe, 3 more sold while i was there. they actually rolled the one out of the showroom which sold. hottest car i have ever seen move at a dealer.

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12/18/2001 5:54:11 AM

2002 Hyundai Santa Fe - LX (A4) FWD

Pros: Beautifully styled unibody construction.

Cons: A number of dashboard controls are confusing and unintuitive.

Advice: This is probably not your SUV if you intend to go bouncing around in swamps and and on pockmarked terrain.

My Santa Fe LX has the Black Obsidian exterior, and it is a beauty to behold. For being in the 'sub-compact SUV' class, it projects a surprisingly massive appearance. Sitting in the driver's seat and looking out over the hood, one is struck with the feeling of driving a hybrid of the Batmobile and some vehicle you might expect to see in one of the Alien movies.
The interior feels spacious and is very well-appointed with lots of luxurious touches one wouldn't expect in a 'value' brand like Hyundai - heated driver and passenger seats, leather seats all around, heated side mirrors, extra power outlets, power everything (with the exception of seats, which, oddly, are not even available as an option).
The car drives very solidly. The 2.7 liter V6 provides good power and decent acceleration, though it does tend to hesitate for half a second and then kick into rocket mode when you accelerate hard. And though the standard automatic transmission (mine is the 2WD model, and not the 4WD) claims to have overdrive, it really doesn't *feel* like overdrive while driving the car; i.e., when you take your foot off the gas pedal at highway speeds, you feel some torqueing down and your speed seems to decrease more rapidly than with 'real' overdrive as I've experienced it in other cars.
However, the overall driving experience is very good, even with the minor performance flaws. You feel as if you're driving a big, bad, but very stylish truck, even though the thing actually handles much more like a regular passenger vehicle. And no other direct competitor offers so many standard features for the price.